Package spring group



Dec. 27, 1960 G. F. coUcH 2,966,352

PACKAGE SPRING GROUP Fi1ed-May 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inven'for:

hi s Attorney FIG. s Glenn (3ouch I Dec. 27, 1960 G. F. coucH PACKAGE SPRING GROUP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2l, 1957 ILM- FIG. 2

Inventor: Glenn E Couch MMI his Attorney United States Patent O "f PACKAGE SPRING GROUP Glenn F. Couch, Bergen, N.Y., assignor to Symington Wayne Corporation, a corporation of Maryland Filed May 21, 1957, Ser. No. 660,525

8 Claims. (Cl. 267-9) This invention relates to a package spring group for a railway truck, ordinarily for use in place of a conventional supporting spring grouping for the snubbed resilient support of a bolster on a side frame.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved package spring group of such compactness as to occupy substantially the space of the supporting spring grouping which it replaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a package spring group wherein the friction surfaces against which the friction shoes of the in-built snubbing shoes act are on a central hollow column containing one of the supporting springs and each shoe is urged into frictional engagement with a friction surface through laterally spaced wedging surfaces by vertically acting resilient -means interposed between the wedging surfaces and lying closely adjacent the column, thereby minimizing the lateral dimensions of the group while affording maximum space for accommodating supporting springs.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a package spring group which not only is compact, while aording maximum space for accommodating supporting springs, but is adapted to permit substantially unresisted relative lateral movement of supporting and supported members Within predetermined limits.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved package spring group wherein inclined rollers carried by one of a pair of supporting and supported members, which enable these members to move laterally relative to each other within limits against rolling friction, also serve under action of an associated vertically acting spring to urge a friction shoe into frictional engagement with a friction surface on the other member for snubbing relative vertical movement between the members.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the improved package spring group of the present invention with portions broken away and shown in section to more clearly illustrate certain of the details of construction;

Figure 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section taken along the lines 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken between the upper spring plate and one of the friction shoe housings of the package spring group of Figure l and having portions broken away and shown in section to more clearly illustrate certain of the details of construction; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts, the improved package spring group or self-snubbing resilient support ,h 2,966,352 Patented Dec. 27, 1960 ICC mechanism or unit of the present invention is designed for the snubbed resilient support of a bolster or other supported member on a side frame or other supporting member of a railway truck (not shown) and usually will be installed in the window opening indicated at 1 of a side frame (not shown) for supporting therein an end of a bolster indicated at 2. While applicable to other spring groupings, the improved package spring group finds particular advantage when installed in place of the five outer coil spring groupings conventionally employed for adapting long travel springs to .4G-ton trucks and both standard and long travel springs to 50-ton trucks.

In the illustrated embodiment, the package spring group or mechanism is comprised of a bottom or lower spring pla-te 3 and a top or upper spring plate or cap 4 of substantially equal hoizontal extent or dimensions. The bottom plate 3 may seat directly on a tension member (not shown) of a side frame (not shown) or be supported thereon through an interposed spring plank 5, the top plate 4 in turn seating against the underside 6 of the bolster 2 and the plates being suitably held against horizontal shifting relative to the side frame or spring plank 5 and bolster 2, respectively, by positioning studs 7. Vertically spacing the top and bottom spring plates 4 and 3 are a plurality of supporting coil springs 8, here five in number, some or all of which may be doub-le springs, depending on the load to be resiliently supported. For positioning those of the coil springs 8 disposed at the opposite ends of the package spring group, the end portions of the spring plates 3 and 4 may be ,bounded by peripheral flanges or lips 9 each integral with one of the plates and extending in the direction of the other and following the outer contours of the pairs of end springs. The other, fifth or odd of the supporting springs 8 is positioned substantially centrally of the pack` age spring group and housed or contained ina downwardly opening cavity or bore 10 of a housing in the form of a hollow column or post 11 integral with or fixed to the central portion of the top spring plate 4 and downstanding or extending downwardly therefrom in the direction of the bottom spring plate 3, but terminating sufficiently thereabove to permit full travel of the supporting springs in compression.

The hollow column or downstanding housing 11 not only houses one of the supporting springs 8 but also serves as part of the snubbing means by which the periodicity in oscillation to which coil springs are subject is snubbed. For this purpose, the column 11 has its continuous somewhat cylindrical lateral or side wall 12 thickened over its transversely facing sides to back up a pair of oppositely facing, substantially flat and upright or verticaly directed friction surfaces 13 disposed substantially parallel to each other and each facing outwardly toward a side of the package spring group. For snubbing the oscillations of the supporting springs 8, the friction surfaces 13 are each frictionally engaged by a substantially flat upright or vertically directed friction, face 14 of a friction sho'e'or wedge 15 carried by andl movable at least on relative vertical movement of the spring plates with the bottom spring plate 3.

For housing the friction shoes 15, there is provided a housing or casing 15 fixed to or integral with the bottom spring plate 3 and upstanding or extending upwardly` therefrom in the direction of the top spring plate 4. Adapted to telescopingly embrace or receive the bottom. portion of the hollow column 11, the upstanding hous-Y ing 16 is formed of longitudinally spaced inboard. and., outboard ribs or webs 17 extending transversely across,j the restricted mdportion or waist 18 of the bottom spring` plate 3, bulging outwardly over their midportion to ac- J commodate the 'column' and projecting thereb'eyond subA stantially to the transverse limits of the relatively wide end portions of the bottom spring plate. Preferably, the upper edges 19 of the ribs 17 slope downwardly towards the center of the bottom plate 3-so as to expose .part of the bottom of the hollow column 11-for visual observance of clearance and their lower edges 20 which project beyond the midportion 18 of the bottom spring plate slope or are inclined upwardly to adapt the bottom spring plate for seating7 on the tension member (not shown) of a conventional side frame of double-truss construction. The ribs 17 areV connected over their outer upper extremities by apair of horizontally directed shelves or walls 21, each instanding toward one of the friction surfaces 13, and a pair of transversely extending outer webs or walls 22 each merging with and' projecting downwardly from the outer extremity of one of the shelves 21 and bulged outwardly as at 23for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. So formed, ythe upstanding housing 16 provides at opposite sides a pair of friction shoe-receiving or seating pockets 24 each opening toward, facing or confronting one of the friction surfaces 13 on the hollow column 11 and defined at its sides by the inboard and outboard ribs 17 and at the top and outwardly by the related of the shelves 21 and outer webs 22.

Designed to contain a central supporting spring-and at the same time hold to a minimum its transverse extent so as to enable it to be accommodated substantially in the space occupied by al conventional spring group-ing having the same number of' supporting springs, the package spring group employs friction shoes of a form particularly adapted to be contained within relatively narrow transverse limits.

ing from a lower extremity ofthe friction face 14 and connected thereto` at the sidesby inboard and outboard' the shoe shelf 25 and reacts against the pocket shelf 21V for urging the shoe downwardly relative to the pocket. This vertical force of the spring or resilient means 29 is transmitted into a wedging force urging the friction face of each shoe 15 into-frictional engagement with the confronting of the friction surfaces 13 onthe column 11 by providing on the confronting faces `of the inboard and outboard walls 26 at each side-of each shoe 15, `a pair of longitudinally spaced ledges 30 having wedging surfaces 31 which slope or are inclined downwardly from the outerV Wall of each pocket toward the bottom plate 3. Each of.

the shoes in turn has. a pair of longitudinally spaced wings 32 each fixed to and projecting longitudinally of the package spring group fromthe outer face of one of the side walls 26 of the shoe and having a Wedging surface 33 sliding or riding on and sloping-or inclined or disposed obliquely in correspondence to the inclination r oblique disposition ofthe Wedging surfaces 31 in the related pocket 24. With the spring means 29 in each pocket thus interposed between and longitudinally spacing the wedging surfaces 31 and 33 and the latter disposed not only at longitudinally opposite sides of each shoe but contained within the vertical and transverse limits of the related spring means, it will be evident that, while the spring means 29, through the associated of the wedging surfaces 31 and 33, are effective to exert the inward force on the shoes required to snub the oscillations of the supporting springs 8 by the friction engen-V defect between the friction surfasesandfaces Al andl To this end, each of the friction shoes- 15.is formed, in addition to itsupstanding frictionfaceor wall 14, of a horizontally directed shelf 25 outstand-Y 4i yet, the snubbing device in toto occupies a minimum of space transversely of the package spring group.

Mention was made earlierof the outward bulging of the outer walls 27 of the pockets 24. The purpose of this is to receive a corresponding outward bulge or ear 34 on the outer wall of each shoe, the confronting faces of the bulges normally being spaced transversely so las to enable each shoe to be drawn away from the column 11 and into its pocket 24. The shoes temporarily may be held in that position during assembly and disassembly of the package spring group by an assembly or a holding pin (not shown) extending through the longitudinally aligned openings or perforations 3S inthe bulged portions of the pocket and shoe.

In the embodiments of Figures 1` and 2, only slight longitudinal clearance is provided between the wings 32 at the sides of the shoes 15 and the outboard and inboard sidesor side Walls 17 of the pockets 24, with the result that the shoes are constrained to move horizontally as well as vertically with the bottom spring plate 3 on movement of the latter relative to the top spring plate 4. However, in the modilication shown in Figures 3 and 4, not only is there longitudinal clearance between the wings 32 and the outboard and inboard sides 26 of the pockets 24 but the shoes are enabled' to move with the top spring plate 4 and relative to the bottom spring plate 3 on relative movement of the spring plates longitudinally of the package spring group and thus laterally of the side framein which it is mounted; At the Sametime, the spring means 29 acting on the shoes 1S remainv efective to urge the friction faces 14 of the shoes into frictional engagement with the friction surfaces'13'on the column 11. As a consequence, the sideY frame andbolster or other supported and supporting members are enabled to move laterally within the limits imposed'by the longitudinal spacing between the Wings 32 and side walls 26 of the pockets 24 Without opposition by any friction engendered between the friction surfaces and faces 13 and 14.

Were longitudinal clearance alone provided between the shoes 15 and pockets 24 relative movement of the plates laterally ofthe side frame would, of course, be resisted by the friction engendered between the wedging surfaces 31 and 33. The modification of Figures 3 and 4 eliminates such friction as well, so that the top and bottom spring plates 3 and 4 and therethrough the side frame and bolster are enabled to move laterally relative to each other substantially without resistance. This is accomplished by retaining the wings-32 at the sides of the shoes 15l with their wedgingV surfaces 31 but substituting for each of the wedging surfaces 31 on the ledges 30 of the embodiment of Figures l and 2 a roller or rollers 36 rolling longitudinally on a transversely inclined or oblique axis paralleling the wedging surface 33 on the related of the wings32. Eachof'the rollers 36 rolls in a correspondingly inclined race or rollway 37 formed in each of the modified ledges 38 and openingupwardly and inwardly of the packagespring group. Riding or supported at opposite sides on at least a pair of' rollers 36, each of theshoes 15' is enabled to move or slide axially of the rollers along their cylindrical outer-faces 39 and thusbe urged into engagement withl the column 11 by the force of the lrelated of the spring means 2 9, while rolling laterally ofthe side frameor longitudinally of the package spring group on the rollersy on relative lateral movement of the top and-bottom spring plates.

From the above detailed'description, it will be apparent that there hasbeen-provided a` package spring group iittable substantially into the spaceoccupied by a conventional coilspringv grouping of corresponding capacity and that while the column 1'1 and shoes 15 have been illustrated and described as carried by the top and bottom spring plates 4 and 3, respectively, thelreverse relation as well could obtain. It'should beunderstood that the described and disclosed embodiment and modification are merely; exemplary of` the invention and that allmodications are intended to be included that do not depart from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A package spring group comprising a bottom spring plate member, a top spring plate member vertically spaced from said bottom spring plate member and supported thereon by a plurality of supporting springs, a housing rigid with one of said members and Opening onto said other member, said housing containing one of said supporting springs, a housing rigid with said other member and opening onto said one member, said second-named housing telescopingly receiving said first-named housing, pockets at opposite sides of said second named' housing, -friction shoe means in each of said pockets and having a vertically directed friction face engageable with a confronting vertically directed friction surface on said firstnamed housing, spring means in each of said pockets and acting vertically between a related of said shoes and a wall of said pocket facing toward said other member, and wedging surfaces at sides of each shoe means and pocket, said spring means acting on said shoe means and through said wedging surfaces for urging said friction surfaces and faces into frictional engagement.

2. A package spring group comp-rising a bottom spring plate member, a top spring plate member vertically spaced from said bottom spring plate member and supported thereon by a plurality of supporting springs, a housing rigid with one of said members and opening onto said other member, said housing containing one of said supporting springs, a housing rigid with said other member and opening onto said one member, said secondnamed housing telescopingly receiving said first-named housing, pockets at opposite sides of said second-named housing and each having a wall vertically spaced from and facing said other member, friction shoe means in each of said pockets and having a vertically directed friction face engageable with a confronting vertically directed friction surface on said first-named housing, spring means in each of said pockets and acting vertically between said wall thereof and the related of said shoes, and wedging surfaces in each pocket, said spring means pressing said shoe means against said wedging surfaces for urging said friction surfaces and faces into frictional engagement.

3. A package spring group comprising a bottom spring plate member, a top spring plate member vertically spaced from said bottom spring plate member and supported thereon by a plurality of supporting springs, a housing rigid with one of said members and opening onto said other member, a housing rigid with said other member and extending therefrom toward said one member, said second-named housing telescopingly receiving and having spaced inboard and outboard side walls embracing said rst-named housing, a pocket in each side of said second-named housing and opening toward said first-named housing, each pocket having a wall facing toward and vertically spaced from said other member, wedge means in each of said pockets and having a ve-rtically directed friction face frictionally engageable with a confronting vertically directed friction surface on said first-named housing, and spring means acting vertically between said wall of each of said pockets and the related of said wedge means for urging said wedge means toward said other member and said friction faces and surfaces into frictional engagement.

4. A package spring group comprising top and bottom spring plate members of substantially equal horizontal extent and separated vertically by a plurality of supporting springs, a housing rigid with one of said members and opening onto said other member, said housing containing one of said supporting springs, a housing rigid with said other member and extending therefrom toward said one member, said second-named housing telescopingly receiving and having spaced inboard and outboard side walls embracing said first named housing, a pocket in each side of said second-named housing and opening inwardly toward said first named housing, wedge means in each of said pockets and having a vertically directed friction face frictionally engageable with a confronting vertically directed friction surface on said firstnamed housing, and spring means acting vertically between each of said pockets and the related of said wedge means for urging said wedge means toward said other member and said friction faces and surfaces into frictional engagement.

5. A package spring group insertable between supported and supporting elements comprising top and bottom spring plate members each restrainable by engagement therewith against transverse movement relative to one of said elements, said members being vertically spaced by a plurality of interposed supporting springs, a housing rigid with one of said members and extending toward said other member, said housing containing one of said springs, a housing rigid with said other member and extending toward said one member, a pocket at a side of said second-named housing and opening onto a side of said rst named housing, an obliquely disposed rollway in said pocket, roller means rollable in said rollway longitudinally of said package spring group, and a springpressed shoe interposed between and acting against said side of said first-named housing and said roller means, said shoe being rollable longitudinally and slidable transversely of said group on said roller means for snubbing relative vertical movement of said members while allowing limited substantially free relative longitudinal movement therebetween.

6. A package spring group insertable between supported and supporting elements comprising top and bottom spring plate members each restrainable by engagement therewith against transverse movement relative to one of said elements, said members being vertically spaced by a plurality of interposed supporting springs, a housing rigid with one of said members and extending toward said other member, said housing containing one of said springs, a housing rigid with said other member and extending toward said one member and telescopingly receiving said first-named housing, a pocket at a side of said second-named housing and opening onto a side of said first-named housing, a pair of longitudinally spaced obliquely disposed rollways in said pocket, roller means in each of said rollways and rollable therein longitudinally of said group, a friction shoe in said pocket between said rollways and supported at opposite sides on said roller means, and spring means acting vertically between said pocket and shoe and urging said shoe along said roller means into frictional engagement with a confronting Wall of said first-named housing for snubbing relative vertical movement of said members, said shoe being rollable longitudinally of said group with said first-named housing for allowing limited substantially free longitudinal movement between said members.

7. A package spring group comprising a bottom spring plate member, a top spring plate member vertically spaced from said bottom spring plate member and supported thereon by a plurality of supporting springs, a housing rigid with one of said members and opening onto said other member, a housing rigid with said other member and extending therefrom toward said one member, said second-named housing telescopingly receiving said iirstnamed housing, pockets in opposite sides of said secondnamed housing and each opening inwardly toward said first-named housing, friction means in each pocket and having a vertically directed friction face frictionally engageable with a confronting vertically directed friction surface on said first-named housing, spring means acting vertically between each of said pockets and the related of said friction means for urging said friction means toward said other member and said friction faces and surfaces into frictional engagement, an outward bulge in 7 an outer wall of said pocket, and ear means on said friction means and normally projecting into said bulge, said bulge and ear means having apertures alignable to receive means for temporarily retracting said friction means into said pocket and away from said first-named housing.

8. A package spring group comprising top and bottom spring plate members vertically spaced by a plurality of interposed supporting springs, a housing rigid with one of said members and extending toward said other member, a housing rigid with said other member and extending toward said one member, pockets at opposite sides of said second-named housing and each opening onto a confronting side of said rst-named housing, an obliquely disposed rollway in each pocket, roller means rollable in said rollway longitudinally of said package spring group, and a spring-pressed shoe in each pocket and interposed between and-actingv against the confronting side of said first-named housingand the related roller means, said shoes being rollable longitudinally and slidf able transversely of said group on said roller means for snubbing relative vertical movement of said members while allowingV limited substantially free relative horizontal movement therebetween.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,483,171 Bachman Sept. 27, 1949 2,668,050 Cottrell et al. Feb. 2, 1954 2,687,295 Tucker Aug. 24, 1954 2,731,923 Couch Ian. 24, 1956- 2,793,029y Shafer May 21, 1957 2,813,711 Cottrell Nov. 19, 1957 2,826,406 Kowalik Mar. 11, 1958 

